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Audio and Video Technicians vs Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film: what changes?

Consider Audio and Video Technicians if you want to set up, maintain, and dismantle audio and video equipment, such as microphones, sound speakers, connecting wires and cables, sound and mixing boards, video cameras, video monitors and servers, and related…. Consider Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film if you would rather operate television, video, or film camera to record images or scenes for television, video, or film productions. Entry credentials differ: Audio and Video Technicians, postsecondary nondegree award; Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film, bachelor's degree.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Audio and Video Technicians and Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Audio and Video Technicians

National median pay (2025)
$58,100
Route into the job
Postsecondary nondegree award; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate
Notify supervisors when major equipment repairs are needed.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
6,600
Know before you choose

Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

See the full Audio and Video Technicians brief

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

National median pay (2025)
$74,990
Route into the job
Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate
Compose and frame each shot, applying the technical aspects of light, lenses, film, filters, and camera settings to achieve the effects sought by directors.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
2,500
Know before you choose

Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

See the full Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Audio and Video Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Audio and Video Technicians is at 3.9% projected growth, compared with 1.3% projected growth for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film.

2

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film has the edge on median pay

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film is at $74,990, compared with $58,100 for Audio and Video Technicians.

3

Audio and Video Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Audio and Video Technicians is at 6,600 annual openings, compared with 2,500 annual openings for Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film.

53.1/ 100

Audio and Video Technicians

vs
46.8/ 100

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Audio and Video Technicians vs Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film

DimensionAudio and Video TechniciansCamera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
Median pay (2025)$58,100$74,990
Pay percentile43.7 percentile65 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)3.9%1.3%
Annual openings (2025–2035)6,6002,500
2025 employment87,60032,600
How you qualifyPostsecondary nondegree award; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensingBachelor's degree
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 3Job Zone 3
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingOne month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Audio and Video Technicians briefRead Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film brief

Try another comparison

Audio and Video Technicians vs Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Audio and Video Technicians
$58,100 · 3.9% growth
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
$72,420 · -0.1% growth
Compare careers →

Audio and Video Technicians vs Film and Video Editors

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Audio and Video Technicians
$58,100 · 3.9% growth
Film and Video Editors
$75,420 · 3.7% growth
Compare careers →

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film vs Film and Video Editors

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
$74,990 · 1.3% growth
Film and Video Editors
$75,420 · 3.7% growth
Compare careers →

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film vs Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
$74,990 · 1.3% growth
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
$47,340 · -7.6% growth
Compare careers →
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